16. I’m crying because of ⌊all⌋ these things.My eyes—my eyes flow with tears.No one can give me the comfort I need to keep me alive.Everyone is too far away from me.My children are devastated because my enemies have won.”
17. Zion holds out its hands.No one offers it comfort.The Lord has given this order about Jacob:His own neighbors will become his opponents.Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them.
18. “The Lord is right in what he did,because I rebelled against his word.Please listen, all you people, and look at my pain.My young women and young men have gone into captivity.
19. I called for those who love me, but they betrayed me.My priests and leaders breathed their last breath in the city,looking for food to keep themselves alive.
20. “O Lord, see the distress I’m in!My stomach is churning.My heart is pounding because I’ve been very bitter.In the streets swords kill my children.Inside the houses it’s like death.
21. “All my enemies have heard that I am groaning.No one offers me comfort.All my enemies have heard about my disaster.They are happy that you did it.You have allowed the day to come, the one that you had announced.Let my enemies be like me now.
22. Recall all of their wickedness.Then deal with them as you have dealt with mebecause of all my rebellious acts.I groan so much and feel so sick at heart.”